A pub boss who stabbed a man during a street brawl has been jailed for more than 13 years.

Jonathan Wrigley, 34, manager of the Wellington on Todmorden Road, Bacup, stabbed James Mulcahy, 26, in a 20-man town centre fight in November last year.

Prosecutors said the victim has been left ‘seriously brain damaged’ having to be fed through a tube and unable to move.

Wrigley, who lived on Todmorden Road, was sentenced to 13 years and six months in jail after being found guilty of wounding at the end of a two-week trial.

He was acquitted of an alternative charge of attempted murder. In passing sentence at Preston Crown Court, Judge Holgate told Wrigley that he had shown ‘no remorse’ for his actions and that by attempting to destroy ‘critical’ CCTV evidence of the aftermath of the incident he had revealed himself to be a ‘manipulative individual’.

Mr Mulcahy has been left ‘seriously brain damaged’ following the incident and needs round the clock care in hospital with little hope of recovery.

The court was told how the brawl which led to the stabbing erupted at around 2.45am on November 22 after a ‘misunderstanding’ between two groups who had been drinking at the Wellington and the Queens pub, on Yorkshire Street in the town.

The court heard how Wrigley left the Wellington and drove into the ‘heart of the fracas’ outside the Queens where he stabbed Mr Mulcahy with a butterfly knife.

After the incident, Wrigley went back to the Wellington where he washed his hands of Mr Mulcahy’s blood and sought ‘associates’ who would give him an alibi.

It was also revealed how Wrigley had sought advice the following day on how to delete CCTV footage from the pub’s security system and then instructed his cousin Curtis Munro, 21, of Queens Park Road, Heywood to delete it.

Munro pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to 16 months in jail.

Prosecuting, Francis McEntee said: “The Mulcahy family are a very close family who have been torn apart by the loss of an active young man who was lively and loving in character.

“They thought on a number of occasions - and indeed during this trial - that the end was nigh.

“James requires day in and day out care for his continued existence in hospital. It is hard to imagine a more serious injury, he has all but been killed.”

A judge has told Wrigley that his actions had had a devastating effect on Mr Mulcahy and his family.

Passing sentence, Judge Holgate said: “The jury saw through your lies. James Mulcahy has been left unable to move, he has food through a tube, his life has been ruined."

After the hearing, Detective Inspector Pete Danby, who led the investigation, said: “Jonathan Wrigley is clearly a violent and controlling individual whose actions have destroyed the lives of both a young man and his family.

“This was a protracted and difficult enquiry and I would like to thank the members of the jury for giving the case their full consideration.

“I’d also like to thank the many witnesses who had the courage to come forward and Jamie’s family for conducting themselves with dignity throughout these proceedings.

“Our thoughts remain with them.”

Mr Mulcahy’s family thanked all those involved in the investigation from PC Dave Greenwood who attended the scene and provided first aid, the family liaison officers and all involved in the investigation, as well as the medical staff who continue to care for Mr Mulcahy.